McConnell pressures Dems on trade

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sought to build pressure on Democrats to back down in a fight over trade — one day after legislation backed by President Obama was blocked in the chamber.

{mosads}“All that’s needed to move forward is for our Democratic friends who tell the public that they support trade is to withdraw support for a filibuster they know is wrong on merits,” McConnell said.

He added that Democrats must choose between supporting the trade bill or allowing themselves “to keep being led around by the most extreme elements of their party.”

The Kentucky Republican’s remarks came after Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) floated a potential deal over the trade legislation.

The Democrats would pull language addressing currency manipulation from a customs and enforcement bill, in exchange for a vote on a standalone currency manipulation bill before a vote on the larger trade package.

That’s a shift from earlier this week when Democrats were demanding that Republicans combine the fast-track bill with three other pieces of trade legislation, including the customs bill that would address currency manipulation.

Reid didn’t specifically mention the deal on Wednesday, but said that “[Democrats] have put a reasonable offer on the table for Senate Republicans to accept. All the Republican leader needs to do is say yes and we can open debate on these trade bills.”

He added that, “it is a shame that my friend, the Republican leader, keeps referring to the extreme left—whatever that means—when we start talking about the middle class.”

The trade fight has created unusual political divisions, with a majority of Republicans, including McConnell, siding with the administration in backing the trade legislation.

It’s also pitted liberal Democrats against President Obama, and featured a public war of words between the president and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) criticized Obama Tuesday, saying he disrespected Warren in responding to her comments about trade as “wrong.” Brown also suggested there was sexism in Obama’s remarks, which led the White House to say it expected an apology. 

Republicans sought Wednesday to play up the division amongst Democrats. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said the trade legislation “isn’t the normal story of Democrats versus Republicans.”

“This isn’t a normal story of Democrats versus Republicans or Senator Reid versus Senator McConnell,” he said. “Oh, no, this is a story about Senator Reid versus President Obama.”

McConnell, referring to his party’s agreement with Obama, said “it’s not a natural position for us, I assure you, or for the president.”